Afini Ladies and Golden Sun Sports Club have joined Bayelsa Stars Queens and Ezuogha Soccer Academy in the semi finals of the women’s version of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football fiesta, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup.
Afini Ladies beat Crystal Stars, one of the tournament’s favourites 3-1 on penalties after a one all draw in regulation time in an encounter decided at the Samson Siasia Studium, Yenagoa.
Last year’s highest goal scorer, Blessing Anderson broke the deadlock on 46 minutes after a beautiful team work.
The celebration did not last long as Agba Praise was brought down in the danger area and centre referee, Elisha Clifford wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and Praise, who scored a hat trick in her first game, stepped forward to send Afini Ladies goalkeeper the wrong way on 50 minutes.
Still basking in the euphoria of their thirteen nil drubbing of the Global Stars of Yenagoa in their opening tie of the tournament, Crystal Stars came into the game full of confidence having clinically taken their last opponents to the cleaners, but met their Waterloo against a technically disciplined Afini ladies FC.
The last quarter final game was more of a ‘one-way traffic, as Golden Sun Sports Club made light work of Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences, BYSCON Queens with a comfortable five nil triumph
Afuruku Anibarafa’s hat trick on 23, 28 and 58 minutes as well as Jessica Mark’s effort on 24 minutes, and captain Rebecca Iwowari’s header in the 31st minute ensured Golden Sun Sports Club completely overwhelmed BYSCON Queens.
With the quarter finals concluded, attention will now shift to the semi-finals, with Bayelsa Stars Queens facing Ezuogha Academy, while Afini Ladies will confront Golden Sun Sports Club as the women are now being separated from the girls.
Afini Ladies coach, Anthony Fouye who was filled with excitement, commended his girls for their doggedness and resilient spirit throughout the encounter, admitting that he was sceptical at the beginning following Crystal Stars intimidating scoreline in their previous match.
Crystal Stars Coach, Sese Ebimobowei said he was proud of his girls despite the disappointing result, blaming over confidence as the greatest undoing of his girls. He, however, gave an assurance that, they would return to the competition as a much improved team next year.
Also, Afini Ladies forward, Blessing Anderson, hailed her teammates for their determination, stating that her team would progress to the final of the tournament, which would be an improvement to their third place finish in last’s year edition.
